Coming back from holiday is bad enough at the best of times but coming back to a house full of pests makes it even worse. When your house is empty while you are away is the ideal time for bugs to get in and multiply, leaving you with a huge problem when you return. The three main culprits are bed bugs, fleas and ants – all common pests that quickly take over given the chance.
Luckily there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of problems. And, if you do come home to a pest problem, the team at Smash’d Em Pest Control are ready and waiting to help you.
Need our help? Give us a call to book a technician.
Common types of bugs that move in and how to prevent them
Tips for Holiday Pest Control
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are tiny creatures that love to live in beds (hence the name), carpets and other furnishings. Bed bugs often come home with you on your clothing or in your luggage from wherever you have been staying.
To reduce the risks check the bedding in your accommodation for signs of bed bugs. If you have any concerns contact the staff and ask for cleaning to be done. Store your luggage carefully at your accommodation to avoid contamination.
If you are worried about bed bugs when you get home, leave your luggage in the garage and unpack there. Bed bugs don’t like hard flooring and they can be easier to spot than on the carpet too. Put all your clothes straight in the washing machine and wash on a hot wash. If possible leave your luggage outside in the sunshine away from the house for a day or two.
If you believe you have bed bugs in your home a thorough vacuuming can help, But the best course of action is to arrange a professional treatment.
Fleas
Fleas are likely to breed while you are away and may also come home with you if you have been around animals while you are on holiday.
If you have pets yourself then before you go away make sure they have been given appropriate flea treatments – especially if they are going to be in a kennel or cattery while you are away. You can also give them a good groom before you go and wash their bedding so it is clean for when you come home. You should also vacuum your carpets and clean countertops before you go so there is nothing for fleas to feed on, and think about having your house flea treated too.
When you get home, if you think there are fleas then vacuum your carpets and furnishings thoroughly. This will help to remove both adult fleas and egg and larvae. Remember to empty your vacuum well away from your property.
For big flea problems, professional treatment is the best option.
Ants
Ants can very quickly develop into a large problem, especially if they arrive while you are on holiday and not there to notice them.
Before you go on holiday try and remove any sources of temptation for the ants. Clean your counters and wipe down the shelves in your pantry. Make sure all food is in sealed containers or packets, especially sweet stuff and don’t leave pet food out in bowls. Vacuuming the carpet to get rid of crumbs can also help.
If you notice any signs of ants or ant nests before you go, you could try leaving ant bait out while you are away.
Come home to a house full of pests? Call Smash’d Em and we’ll help you sort them out
Remember the 5Ps – Prior Preparation Prevents Pest Problems!
But, if, despite your best efforts, you’ve come back from your trip and found some unwanted pests have moved in, give our team a call and we’ll help you get rid of them.
With specialist treatments appropriate for each type of pest, our team can help you with all kinds of critters. Our experienced technicians know just how to deal with your problem while keeping things safe for your family and pets.
We can also give you advice on how to stop the problem reoccurring.
If you have come home to bugs, give us a call today.